Public Safety

August's Fire Safety Tip: Matches and Lighters are Tools Not Toys *In a child’s hand matches and lighters can be deadly. *Buy child resistant lighters and store all matches and lighters up high, where kids can’t see or reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet. *Teach your children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys, and should be used only by adults or with adult supervision. *Teach small children to tell an adult if they find matches or lighters; older children should bring matches and lighters to an adult immediately.

Mayor Edward Reynolds had the honor of administering the oaths of office to four new Bainbridge Public Safety officers: Peyton Dodson, Bennett Harrison, Kyle Swicord, and Hunter Jones.

We’re excited to welcome them to the Bainbridge Public Safety family and look forward to the positive contributions they’ll make in serving and protecting our community!

Photo Credit: Ethan Reddish- The Post Searchlight

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE – Wednesday, July 16 🚧

Heads up, drivers! On Wednesday, July 16, Alice Street will be closed from West Street to the Walmart entrance for road resurfacing. This closure is necessary to improve road conditions and will affect all traffic except local residents.

👉 To access Walmart and the shopping center, you must enter Alice Street from Highway 27.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience.

July's Fire Safety Tip: Portable Air Conditioner Safety *Portable air conditioner units can cause fires if plugged into an extension cord or surge protector. They are not rated high enough to safely power a portable unit. *This can cause even a new cord in good condition to overheat and catch fire. *Plug directly into a wall outlet. *Do not run the cord from the unit under a rug or through a wall. This can also lead to overheating and put the electrical cord in contact with flammable materials.

June's Fire Safety Tip: Cook Carefully *Never leave cooking unattended. *Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop. *If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. *Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and wear clothes with short sleeves when you cook. *Turn pot handles inward on the stove, where you can’t bump them and children can’t grab them. *Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. *If grease catches fire in a pan, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the heat source. Keep lid on until pan is completely cooled. *If in doubt about fighting a small fire just get out. Close the door when you leave to contain the fire and call 9-1-1 from a safe location outside the home.

May's Fire Safety Tip: Plan Your Escape From Fire *If a fire breaks out in your home, you have to get out fast. *To prepare, sit down with your family and agree on an escape plan. *Be sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed exits — doors and windows — from every room. *Decide on a meeting place outside where everyone will meet after they escape. *Have your entire household practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month — a reminder that even a quick glance at your phone can have life-changing consequences. 📵 Watch this short video to learn just how dangerous and costly distracted driving can be: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving

Distracted Driving: Takes your eyes off of the road, your hands off of the wheel and your mind off of driving #distracteddrivingawarenessmonth

✨ Tell Me Something Good Friday! ✨ Business owners, ever feel at ease knowing your business is being watched over, even when you’re closed? That peace of mind is exactly what you get when you see one of our officers' check-in tickets on your front door. 🚓💼 It's our way of ensuring that while you're resting, your investment is being protected. Our officers are routinely checking on businesses to help keep your property safe and sound while you sleep. 🛡️💤 Thank you for trusting us to help keep our community secure. #TellMeSomethingGood

April's Fire Safety Tip: Install Smoke Alarms *Smoke alarms can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are sleeping. *Install alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in each sleeping area. *Bainbridge Public Safety also recommends sleeping with your door closed. *Test each alarm every month, following the manufacturer’s directions, and replace batteries once a year, or whenever an alarm “chirps” to signal a low battery. *Newer units with the 10-year long-life batteries, should also be tested monthly. *Never “borrow” a smoke alarm battery for another use — a disabled alarm can’t save your life. Replace alarms that are more than ten years old.

✨Spotlight on Service! 👮‍♂️✨ Yesterday afternoon, Police Chief Redell Walton took time out of his day to visit the Level Up Tennis afterschool program. He spent valuable time with the kids, talking about safety, answering their questions, and building trust within the community. His dedication to fostering positive relationships and supporting our youth is truly appreciated! #CommunityFirst #BuildingTrust

DOWNTOWN AND PARK PATROL ZONE The City of Bainbridge has implemented a new Downtown and Park Patrol Zone for Bainbridge Public Safety to patrol. The new zone enhances public safety by providing dedicated coverage to the heart of Bainbridge. This zone ensures a consistent presence of public safety officers, deterring crime, and fostering a safer, more welcoming environment for businesses, residents and visitors. The zone covers the area highlighted in green on the map which covers the area from N Scott Street to downtown, Chason Park + Riverwalk and the recreation fields. Zone: *Community oriented policing *Building stronger relationships with business owners and the residents in the downtown area *Routine vehicle patrol *Walk & Talk (foot patrol) *Side by Side Patrol *E-Bike Patrol

Congratulations to Chief Investigator Mark Esquivel for being named the 2024 Police Officer of the Year! This prestigious award, sponsored by Taurus, is a testament to Mark’s dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to our community. We are incredibly proud to have him on our team. Thank you, Mark, for your service, loyalty, and the positive impact you make every day.

At least week's City Council meeting, Janette Mowry was recognized as Employee of the Quarter. Janette has been an employee of the City of Bainbridge since 2013 and works in our Public Safety Division as an Administrative Assistant. She was nominated by, not one, but two of her coworkers for her commitment to the division and specifically for leading the department to their recent perfect audit by GCIC. Join us in expressing a big thank you to Janette for her service to our community and her coworkers!

🚨 Curfew in Effect for Your Safety 🚨 As temperatures drop below freezing tonight, melting snow WILL refreeze on our roadways, creating dangerous ice patches. Streets with standing water from melting snow will lead to unexpected hazards. For your safety and the safety of our responding officers, please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe. ❄️ #CurfewInEffect #WinterSafety #StayOffTheRoads

During last night's historic snowfall, BPS officers responded to several calls involving vehicles that had left the roadways, including a semi. While the snow has stopped, roads continue to be dangerous due to snow and icy conditions. We ask that you do not drive on them unless it is an emergency until midday at the earliest.

For those celebrating the coming of a new year with fireworks, here a few safety tips: *Don't allow young children to handle fireworks. *Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol. *Never light them indoors. *Maintain a safe distance after lighting fireworks. *Keep a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher nearby in the case of a fire or a firework does not go off.

At tonight's City Council meeting, Dwight Tomlin was introduced as the new BPS Chaplain. Dwight is no stranger to Bainbridge and we look forward to his contribution to our BPS staff and our citizens. Welcome home Dwight!

Bainbridge Public Safety sent officers to Alma, Georgia yesterday to assist in hurricane recovery efforts there. Chief Investigator Mark Esquivel, Investigator Josh Glover, Investigator Gaston Corson and PSO 3/ K9 Officer Chris Moore spent the day assisting local residents with tree and limb removal, clearing roadways and providing much needed aid. Often, in times of natural disasters such as Hurricane Helene, our officers extend support to those in need beyond our area.